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Friday, June 30, 2017

Summer of 2017: Standing Firm – Moving Forward Together

This is the official statement of the Charlottesville Clergy Collective, outlining the response(s) planned by many of the faith communities in C'ville. (The list of signatories is at the end.) Over the next several days I will post more information, both practical and theological.

The Charlottesville Clergy Collective is a
gathering of faith leaders in the Charlottesville-Albemarle region whose
mission is to establish, develop, and promote racial justice. We are committed
to challenging the resurgence of groups promoting racist, white supremacist
ideals this summer with prayer and action, galvanizing the community to act in
a spirit of love and radical hospitality, respecting the dignity of every human
being.

On July 8, the Charlottesville Clergy
Collective will be present in and around downtown at events organized by the
city and other community leaders in addition to hosting activities under our
banner. The focal point of our activity will occur, and be launched from, First
United Methodist Church

Our overall aim is to provide:

Action: Prayers begin in Justice Park in the morning and continue
into the afternoon with a march from FUMC to Justice Park to bear witness as a
faith community and to the Pavilion for a time of prayer, song, and
celebration, surrounding the area with our presence.

Safe Space: First United Methodist Church, 1:00pm –
5:00pm, open for prayer, music, community-building, and conversation.

Accompaniment: Walking with those who might be hesitant
to move around the areas between FUMC and points downtown.

Education: Training and conversation events leading
up to July 8 and plans for ongoing witness in the days and weeks following.

As people of faith, we have been working
together to address issues of justice and equality and to heal divisions in our
region, and these events of July 8 are a continuation of that work. We have
much to do to create a community in which all people feel welcome, safe,
nurtured, and fully included in our common life.

We will Stand Firm in our pursuit
of justice and the honoring of all peoples, and we will Move Forward
Together as one community, united in our common humanity as beloved of God.